Web-based Learning Course in Paleontology for Gifted and Talented students Education Bureau, HKSAR Prof Lung Sang Chan Department of Earth Sciences The University of Hong Kong
Aims Enhance appreciation in study of earth’s history and evolution as a scientific discipline Basic concepts and understanding in paleontology Enhance self-motivation and ability in independent study skills
Course plan Senior primary to junior secondary students who are scientifically inclined 3 levels with increasing degree of difficulty Proficiency test at end of each level Course contents provided both in English and Chinese
Course activities Web-based learning course – Exercises and activities – Tests – Supplementary information on internet – Open-ended questions Discussion forum and real-time Q&A sessions Seminars on Paleontology Workshop on restoration of fossils Field and museum visits
Level 1 1. Relationship between Organisms and Paleontology 2. Basic concept of fossil Formation of fossils 3. Geological Time Index fossils 4. The origin of Life 5. Discover the fossils and preservation Contents
Level 2 1. The Cambrian explosion The earliest evidence of life 2. Ancient invertebrates Coelenterata Echinodermata Mollusca 3. Ancient vertebrates Fishes Tetrapods 4. Basic classifications of dinosaurs Dinosaurs’ living environment. Contents
Level 3 1. Ancient Plants Pteridophyta Gymnospermae Angiospermae 2. Dinosaurs The origin of dinosaurs Classification of dinosaurs Extinction of dinosaurs 3. Mammals explosion Evolution and development of human 4. The extinction 5. Living fossils Fossils in Hong Kong Contents
Animations Ways of Fossil Preservation
Graphics prepared by experts
Fossil pictures (all with copyright permission)
礦質充填作用的過程 Games and on-line activities
Reconstruct Your Own Image of the Cambrian SAVE This organism did not appear in Cambrian!
Locate ammonite fossil in the sections Question: where in the section may you find ammonite fossils? Modern soil Neogene marine deposits Jurassic flood deposits Granite Silurian marine deposits Basalt Cambrian marine deposits No, ammonites became extinct already No, ammonites did not appear yet You found it! You are so clever!
Target 埃舍蟲 Aysheaia pedunculata Characteristics Measuring around 5 cm, it is like a legged worm with spikes on the head, it is possibly the ancestor of species with claws. Fossils buried point Hint Go 5 spaces north Restored picture MISSION 1 N Which of the following fossils do you need? X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8X9X10 Y4 Y3 Y2 Y1 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y9 Y8 Y10
The Burgess Shale Biota and their featuresFossils Mission 1Aysheaia pedunculata Measuring around 5 cm, it is like a legged worm with spikes on the head, it is possibly the ancestor of species with claws. Mission 2Sidneyia inexpectans It is an arthropod around 10 cm long, with a finned-like tail. Mission 3 Mission 4 Mission 5 Mission 6